The Necessary Stage takes on Gender Issues in the Malay-Muslim Community

Singapore — These days, especially if you are watching the presidential debate in the United States, we are hit daily by comments and narratives debating and highlighting misogyny and gender-related issues. Perhaps this a good reminder of how far we have to go in terms of gender equality.

Haresh Sharma and Alvin Tan, co-collaborators from theatre company The Necessary Stage since 1987, are just as relentless in pursuing this issue. Never one to shy away from hot-button issues, the resident playwright and artistic director have decided to follow up on their earlier production Best Of, a monologue based on the story of a young Malay-Muslim woman going through divorce, with Best Of (His Story) exploring the husband’s point of view.

Best Of, starring Siti Khalijah Zainal was first staged at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2013 and restaged in 2014, to popular and critical acclaim. Best of (His Story) will feature stage and theatre actor Sani Hussin as the husband.

“Although male dominance is still present and we still have some way to go to achieve gender equality, I do think it is necessary to listen to the male side of the story; what he is going through and if his world view is undergoing any process of change,” said Tan.

The 53-year-old believes in the importance of hearing both sides of the story to fully grasp any situation. “It is not that her (the female protagonist’s) account is lacking, as much as it is a case of questioning how absolute we can sometimes be when we make judgements of other people. In this era, it is important that we have some self-doubt and/or uncertainty, because that would exercise our self-reflexive muscles, so that we leave things open and continue to ask questions and process our thoughts before rushing to a conclusion,” he added.

The idea for this production arose during their performances of Best Of in Singapore and at overseas festivals in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane and New York. “At one of our post-show discussions, someone asked if I would consider writing from the husband’s point of view. That started me thinking about writing another monologue,” Sharma, 51, shared.

Three years later, Best Of (His Story) was born. The play takes the format of “a day in the life”, just like in the previous script. The character shares details of his day, from his Civil Defence routine reporting to his time at the Syariah court and meeting his best friends. But throughout the monologue, he also talks about his childhood and school life, his family, relationships and society at large.

Though focusing on a Malay-Muslim man, the play’s themes go beyond a specific community. “Some may think that the play may not resonate with them because it is about a Malay-Muslim man and his divorce. However, as seen from the staging of Best Of, non Malay-Muslim audiences also found the play to be very rich and the character complex and engaging,” Sharma said.

The playwright added, “It (the play) is universal in its specificity. Broken relationships, the what-ifs and should-haves of life, the exhaustion of inaction ... these themes permeate the play which I feel will relate to all audiences.”

Tan explained that this play is not a reaction piece to Best Of. “Although they provide different accounts to the same marriage, Best Of (His Story) stands on its own as a piece responding to male dominance, privilege and fragility.”

Sharma agreed: “Those who missed Best Of can still enjoy this play because the husband’s story is self-contained. Sani Hussin is a very compelling performer who is able to embrace the complexities of the character and shine with his affability.”

Sani, 41, who previously worked with Sharma and Tan on their production Manifesto in March this year, shared more about his character’s psyche and its relevance for the audience.

“The character has an idea of what marriage should look like in the 21st century where everything is shared by husband and wife. However, the character still feels that regardless of the social status or salary of the woman, she needs to know that she is still a wife,” he observed. “Perhaps, audience members will understand the psyche of the husband as he struggles with how the reality of his marriage fails to match his personal ideals.”

Best Of (His Story) runs from Nov 2 to 6 and 9 to 13 at The Necessary Stage Black Box. Tickets are available on SISTIC.